Department performance, highlights of District 2 and utility management guide to highlight August 20 meeting of
Idaho Transportation Board

Annual performance measures, District 2 highlights and management of utilities will highlight the August 20 meeting of the Idaho Transportation Board.

The transportation board will meet remotely for its business meeting on August 20, with the board members participating via video conference from their respective district and the chairman in the auditorium with key staff. The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m.

To listen:
Dial 1-844-740-1264
Meeting number (access code): 133 254 7062
Meeting password: 1234

Performance Measurement Report
The board will be asked to approve the annual Performance Measurement Report. Idaho Code requires the annual report to include, at a minimum, the agency overview, core functions, revenues and expenditures, cases managed and key services provided, Licensing Freedom Act information, and Red Tape Reduction Act information.

Some of this year’s highlights included these year-over-year increases or improvements:

- The number of licensed drivers increased from 1.26 million in 2018 to 1.27 million in 2019;
- The annual miles driven on the state highway system increased from 9.98 billion in 2018 to 10.12 billion in 2019;
- In 2019, it took an average of 3 days to process vehicle titles, exceeding the target of 5 days; and
- A total of 582,400 DMV transactions were processed online in 2019, a significant  increase from 305,500 in 2018.

District 2 Annual Report
District 2 Engineer Doral Hoff will report on the district’s activities. The winter mobility goal of keeping the roads clear of ice and snow 73% of the time was exceeded with an 84% rate during the 2019-2020 winter. This was accomplished in spite of the Clearwater Basin, which covers most of the district, recording the snow water equivalent of 108% of average and Lewiston setting a new record for snow with 29 inches.

In addition to eight major construction projects this year, the district is also working on refining its winter maintenance efforts and reducing costs, and preparing the trucks for next winter.  Hoff will also provide an overview on the district’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as regimental cleaning of high-touch areas like door handles, key boards, and phones, and some employees working remotely or on a rotating schedule.

Updating the Guide for Utility Management
The Guide for Utility Management addresses the coordination and administration of utility facilities installation, relocation, and adjustment within the state highway right-of-way. The guide covers utilities regulated by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Idaho Code regulates the right to use right-of-way for telephone lines, but not broadband and wireless telecommunications.

Staff will discuss with the board integrating a new chapter in the Guide for Utility Management to address private sector for-profit telecommunications facilities to provide guidance and establish procedures. It is important to protect the rights-of-way for transportation purposes while accommodating broadband and wireless facilities. The department is developing a system to track the location of utilities and encroachment permits using Geographic Information Systems.

 

Published 08-14-20